Patrick Conry's song may have come to an abrupt and untimely end last Thursday when he was killed by train, but he will long be remembered for the song he left in everyone's hearts during his 17 years.

The Banting Memorial High School student led a somewhat dichotomous life, playing football in the TNT Express Football League as well as being a part of the the high school's drama class. Mostly, the eclectic, burly, red head loved music.

Patrick was a co-op student at the Alliston Herald last year. Though the Modern Conservatory of Music was his first choice for a work placement in the co-operative education program, the studio isn't open in the afternoon when his co-op was to take place.

He also had a passion for the written word and told Herald editor Craig Widdifield when he started working at the newspaper, his dream was to one day combine his two passions and write for Rolling Stone magazine. He took lessons at the Modern Conservatory of Music in Alliston and also played bass in two local bands.

Widdifield said staff at the Herald were shocked and saddened when they learned late Thursday and on into Friday that the victim of the CPR accident was someone so close to the newspaper.

A memorial and candlelight vigil was held in the teenager's honour Friday at the youth volunteer-run Blue Frog Café. That night's jam session was dedicated to Patrick's memory.

Sandra Mawby, who is with CONTACT, which opened the Blue Frog for area youth, remembers Patrick as "a wonderful guy".

"He was such a happy guy," she said. "Originally we had a jam session planned, so it's turned into a memorial. All of the music (was) dedicated to him."

Patrick was the victim of an accident on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) tracks just north of Victoria Street in Alliston just after 8 a.m. Thursday, May 27.

According to police, he was oblivious to the train approaching from behind him as he walked alongside the tracks.

Police said he was walking southbound while wearing a large set of studio headphones and possibly listening to music. The train operators sounded their horns repeatedly to alert him to their approach, but he showed no reaction or response as he continued to walk.

According to police, who based their investigation on a video of the incident captured by a camera mounted on the front of the train, Patrick seemed completely unaware of the danger.

The train operators were unable to stop the fast-moving, freight train in time. After striking Patrick and knocking him aside, it eventually came to a stop south of Albert Street, almost at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Parsons Road. The engine was cordoned off with police tape as CPR police and OPP officers conducted an investigation. East-west traffic through Alliston was halted as police investigated the accident. The train spanned at least three road crossings north of where it stopped including Albert Street and Victoria Street.

On Friday, counseling sessions were held Banting to help staff and students to cope with the tragedy.

Banting Memorial High School principal Anne McClure said staff and students were saddened by his death.

"It's been a tough day," she said Friday, after the counseling sessions. "Patrick was one of those kids popular with all his peers. He touched so many people."

Nottawasaga OPP Constable Melody Tourigny said Patrick's death was, sadly, preventable.

"…this type of incident is absolutely preventable as any person or vehicle incurs a great risk to their personal safety by placing themselves on or near railway tracks with active trains," she said.

Patrick's Facebook page is filling up with page after page of comments and condolences from this friends and classmates. On Friday, the flag at Banting Memorial High School was lowered to half-mast.

A visitation was held Monday. Additional visitations are being held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today (Tuesday, June 1).

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 2 at W. John Thomas Funeral Home on Victoria Street East in Alliston.

In lieu of flowers, Patrick's parents, Paul and Sandy Conry, are accepting donations through the funeral home towards a trust fund they are establishing in his name. It will fund a scholarship for music students. Details on the scholarship and an account number for the trust fund will be published as soon as they are available. In the meantime anyone wishing to do so can donate through the funeral home.